Monroe and Lafayette: A Reunion

Name: Monroe and Lafayette: A Reunion
Start: 2025-08-16T17:00:00-04:00
Location: James Monroe's Highland

Schedule

Sat, 16 Aug, 2025 at 05:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

James Monroe's Highland | Charlottesville, VA

Join us for a day of what-if events!
Cost for full day: $50. Registration fee is all inclusive for the full day’s events at Highland and the catered lunch. Period attire (casual) welcomed!
10:00am-10:45am
Meet Monroe and Lafayette (private) Location: Hilltop Pavillion
President Monroe welcomes General Lafayette to his farm. It seems likely that Lafayette never visited Monroe at Highland (though we know he visited Monroe’s home in Loudoun County, Oak Hill). What might he have seen if he had? What might the two old friends have talked about? Monroe shares how he came to settle in Albemarle and “shows” Lafayette around the farm, including the gardens, sheep, and hilltop views of his neighbors.
10:45am
Guided history walks and self-paced exploration of house, grounds, and exhibits.
Location: Service yard, indoor & outdoor exhibits, 1799 Main House archaeological site. Our group divides for guided tours and exhibit exploration in three concurrent history walks. Each group will enjoy a 30 minute history walk with a knowledgeable historical interpreter, and ample time to explore indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces accompanied by an interpreter for additional engagement and Q & A.
12:15pm
Lunch on pavilion - private (weather permitting). After lunch, Coffee, Iced tea and water will be provided with Lafayette Cake and Lafayette Gingerbread before the program in the Event Barn begins.
1:15pm
Monroe and Lafayette Reminisce - Location: Event Barn, Open to Public
Monroe and Lafayette take front and center for a conversation that ranges through the years and through a variety of topics. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions or subjects of interest at lunch to guide the conversation. Topics can range to include their time together as young men in the Revolutionary War, their views on the ideals of the revolution over the years, wives & family, France and 1825 current events.
2:30pm-4:00pm
AFL participants and public are invited to continue their exploration by visiting some of the thematic interpretation stations in the Upper Barn, participating in a dramatic reading of letters between Monroe, Lafayette and others in the Lower Level of Barn, or continuing to explore the grounds and historic core.
Dramatic readings of letters between Monroe, Lafayette & Others
Attendees are invited to participate in a dramatic dialogue of letters between Monroe and Lafayette and also with others, read by AFL members and any interested public.
Interpretation stations: Monroe and France
Stop by interpretation stations and explore Monroe’s time in France and how it shaped his aesthetic sensibilities and approach to foreign policy through some specially selected Monroe collections items and documents and can explore Highland through an archaeology station.
Highland Rustic Trails
Enjoy a country or forest stroll on the several miles of Highland’s rustic trail system (open through 4:30pm).
Tickets: https://friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org/event-6197212

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